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Bulgaria win three matches at the 2015 EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships

August 9, 2015

Twenty-six preliminary bouts were held on Day 3 of the 2015 EUBC European Confederation Boxing Championships in Samokov, where the winners of the Light Flyweight (49 kg) and Super Heavyweight (+91 kg) matches advanced to the quarter-finals.

The first preliminary round of the Light Heavyweight (81 kg) division was also held on the third competition day.

Bout of the day

2011 EUBC European Continental Championships gold medalist Russia’s Magomed Omarov has recently regained his place in the national team, and the Super Heavyweight defeated Italy’s 21-year-old talented Guido Vianello in a great match.

After Omarov impressed in the first round, Vianello worked from long range and dominated the second frame which left everything to play for heading into the third and final stanza.

It was the Russian who controlled the last three minutes as he outperformed the Italian, and ultimately qualified through to meet Bulgaria’s Petar Belberov in the quarter-finals.

Team of the day

The hosts of the championships Bulgaria enjoyed a successful day where three of their young stars advanced to the next stage.

Tinko Banabakov delivered his best ever performance when he defeated Armenia’s 19-year-old Artur Hovhannisyan at Light Flyweight, and will next be fighting for the guaranteed medal against Estonia’s new surprise Kirill Serikov.

Radoslav Pantaleev won the test event of the Baku 2015 European Games and the Strandja Memorial Tournament in February, and continued his good form with a strong victory over Greece’s Polyneikis Kalamaras at Light Heavyweight.

Light Flyweight Samuel Carmona Heredia was added to the Spanish team at the final minute, but looked accomplished in his opening bout when he outperformed Italy’s AIBA World Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Manuel Cappai.

Heredia’s teammate Alejandro Camacho also enjoyed a surprise result with a spectacular win over French Light Heavyweight Souliman Abdourachidov.

Estonia’s Kirill Serikov completed a day of surprises with a Light Flyweight upset against Israel’s David Alaverdian.

Ireland’s former EUBC European Continental Champion and AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist opened his tournament with a cultured triumph over Russian Light Heavyweight Idris Shakhmanov.

Romania’s Mihai Nistor is in remarkable form after his AIBA Pro Boxing exploits, and knocked out Moldova’s Alexei Zavatin in their Super Heavyweight match.

A future rival for Nistor in Bulgaria could be Croatia’s former AIBA Youth World Champion Filip Hrgovic, who dominated all of the rounds against Ireland’s Dean Gardiner.

Quotes of the day

“I was satisfied with my performance as I won every round on every scorecard. My German opponent was an experienced boxer, but my tactic was to use my range and speed to keep him on the end of my backhand. I was a little tired towards the end of the last round, but I make sure I do everything right after my fight so I can perform to my potential every match no matter how many times I box in the championships,” said Great Britain’s Harvey Horn who eliminated Germany’s Sergej Neumann at Light Flyweight.

“It was a tactical victory and I tried to follow all the footsteps of my opponent in the first two rounds. Vanecek had strong punches, but I could manage the tactical job. I am happy of course after my opening bout which is always the key moment in a competition and I hope I can win my next match in Samokov,” said Estonia’s Ainar Karlson.

“There was not any strict tactics in my opening bout as I never met with my Israeli opponent in previous competitions. The climate here in Samokov is very different and the bout was really hard for me. I am near my target to reach the Top 6 in the championships, but now I am focusing only on my next quarter-final bout,” said Estonia’s Kirill Serikov.

Tomorrow’s program

Thirty-two contests will be held on the fourth competition day at the EUBC European Confederation Continental Championships in Samokov, where the winners of the Bantamweight (56 kg), Light Welterweight (64 kg), Middleweight (75 kg) and Heavyweight (91 kg) matches will advance to the quarter-finals tomorrow.